Latest news with #PlanningandEnvironmentalAppealsDivision
The National
5 days ago
- Business
- The National
SNP ministers throw out Bannockburn race track development
The decision comes despite a Scottish Government reporter having recommended that the plans for the trotting track be approved A decision statement published by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) said: 'The reporter recommended that planning permission should be granted subject to conditions. 'The Scottish Ministers have carefully considered all of the evidence presented and the reporter's findings and conclusions in the report. 'The Scottish Ministers disagree with the reporter's recommendation, as explained in this decision letter, and refuse planning permission for the proposed development.' Ministers argued the site lies in one of the last undeveloped areas of the battlefield, with important landscape features that contribute to public understanding of the 1314 conflict. They also found the proposed facility – including a racetrack, bar, and takeaway outlet – would introduce urbanisation that harms views from the battlefield's rotunda and disrupts the visitor experience. While the Ministers acknowledged the need for a permanent venue to support harness racing in Scotland, they said the anticipated benefits did not outweigh the cultural and environmental harms. They also dismissed claims that the visual and noise impacts would be limited to race days.
The National
16-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish ministers recommended to allow Flamingo Land appeal
A report released on Friday, May 16, by the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) has given notice that the reporter in charge of the case is minded to allow their appeal. In September 2024, the Yorkshire-based theme park operator, Flamingo Land Ltd, had their planning permission in principle rejected after all 14 board members of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Planning Authority. READ MORE: Flamingo Land developers accused of using 'distortion and disinformation' The £40m proposals could create more than 100 holiday lodges, two hotels, a waterpark, a monorail, 372 car parking spaces, shops, and more on the site called 'Lomond Banks'. Planning permission in principle will be subject to a legal agreement being reached. The final decision has therefore been deferred for the period detailed in the Notice of Intention to allow the conclusion of that agreement. The report reads: "This indicates that planning permission will be granted provided an agreement under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 is reached between the planning authority and the appellant. READ MORE: Reform 'becoming opposition' to SNP, says Farage after Scottish by-election surge "The planning permission will not be issued until that agreement is reached and registered." The 80-page document gives 417 reasons why the reporter is minded to grant the appeal. The new target date for a DPEA decision is November 27, 2025.
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Controversial £40m Flamingo Land resort at Scots beauty spot APPROVED despite thousands of complaints
FLAMIN-GO! Controversial £40m Flamingo Land resort at Scots beauty spot APPROVED despite thousands of complaints A CONTROVERSIAL £40m Flamingo Land resort at Loch Lomond is set to get the go-ahead - after the Scottish Government overturned a refusal decision. It comes after bosses at the National Park Authority unanimously refused the plans back in September. 1 A decision published on Friday showed a reporter in the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division has upheld an appeal from Flamingo Land for the plans,. But 49 conditions were slapped on the application. The applicant will have to reach an agreement with the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority before the application can progress. The land which is proposed to be built on is owned by the Scottish Government's commercial wing Scottish Enterprise. It has agreed to sell to Flamingo Land if planning permission for the development is granted, with the deal being extended last year to allow for an appeal to the refusal. Under the £43.5 million proposals, Lomond Banks would see two hotels, more than 100 lodges, a waterpark and monorail built on the site at Balloch, West Dunbartonshire. The development has been proposed for years, with Lomond Banks pulling out in 2019 before returning with a new application, which has proven controversial with the local community. A campaign spearheaded by Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer garnered more than 150,000 signatures, he claimed, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the National Trust and the Woodland Trust also lodged objections. Campaigners have expressed worries about the environmental impact on the area, as well as extra traffic on the already beleaguered A82, and the quality of jobs. A study commissioned by Lomond Banks suggested as many as 200 positions could be created - 80 full-time and 120 part-time or seasonal - with the developer pledging to stick to Scottish Government-set fair work principles. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun. is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.
The National
16-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish ministers set to allow Flamingo Land appeal
A report released on Friday, May 16, by the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) has given notice that the reporter in charge of the case is minded to allow their appeal. In September 2024, the Yorkshire-based theme park operator, Flamingo Land Ltd, had their planning permission in principle rejected after all 14 board members of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Planning Authority. READ MORE: Flamingo Land developers accused of using 'distortion and disinformation' The £40m proposals could create more than 100 holiday lodges, two hotels, a waterpark, a monorail, 372 car parking spaces, shops, and more on the site called 'Lomond Banks'. Planning permission in principle will be subject to a legal agreement being reached. The final decision has therefore been deferred for the period detailed in the Notice of Intention to allow the conclusion of that agreement. The report reads: "This indicates that planning permission will be granted provided an agreement under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 is reached between the planning authority and the appellant. READ MORE: Reform 'becoming opposition' to SNP, says Farage after Scottish by-election surge "The planning permission will not be issued until that agreement is reached and registered." The 80-page document gives 417 reasons why the reporter is minded to grant the appeal. The new target date for a DPEA decision is November 27, 2025. More to follow.
The Courier
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Methven solar farm plans on ice as Scottish Government calls in Coupar Angus case
Controversial plans for a solar farm near Methven have been put on ice until the Scottish Government rules on a similar scheme at Coupar Angus. Council planners say they want to know the outcome of the Coupar Angus case before they decide on the Kinnon Park application at Methven. Perth and Kinross Council has rejected the Markethill project at Coupar Angus twice now. The last application was refused in December 2023 after it received 173 objections. Applicant Vickram Mirchandani took his case to the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division. But before a decision was issued on that appeal, the application was called in by Scottish Ministers last May. A year on, there's been no ruling from Holyrood. And now the council says it wants clarity on national policy before it weighs in on the Kinnon Park solar project planned for Methven. The Methven application was lodged in August 2024. The solar panels plan, for Kinnon Park Farm, off the busy A85 Perth-Crieff road, has received 349 objections. Opponents include Crawford Niven, whose family work the land around their Gloagburn farm shop. He posted a viral video on his popular Crawford's Farm YouTube channel, protesting against the loss of prime agricultural land. The company behind the scheme, NS Solar Kinnon Park, was also criticised for hiring canvassers to go door-to-door enlisting support for the application. Locals said they were pressured to withdraw their objections. A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson told The Courier: 'Given the importance of the issue and a keenness of all interested parties to see a decision made on the Kinnon Park application as soon as possible, the council is regularly seeking updates from Scottish Ministers and the Chief Planner on progress of the called-in Markethill proposal. 'However, to this point, we have not been advised on when a decision is likely to be taken.' Another controversial green energy scheme planned for nearby Tibbermore was rejected in March this year. Councillors heard the Perth green belt was 'under siege' as they unanimously refused an application from Salford-based Ylem Energy for a 49.9MW battery energy storage system. Campaigners have launched an online petition calling on Perth and Kinross Council to pause all solar development approvals until a 'robust, location-sensitive, and proportionate' planning framework is in place. The Collace Solar Objection Group says developers should prioritise rooftop and brownfield sites and protect agricultural land.
